Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent example of a mid-war production 2nd Model Luftwaffe dagger, complete with portepee and belt hanger. It also is named on the underside of the cross guard to H.L. of Fighter Wing JG 26, something we rarely see! Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 26 Schlageter was a German fighter-wing of World War II. It operated mainly in Western Europe against Great Britain, France and the United States, but also saw service against the Soviet Union. It was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a World War I veteran and Freikorps member arrested and executed by the French for sabotage in 1923.
It is a fine Solingen-Produced example made by A. Schütelhöffer & Co., Stahlwarenfabrik. The celluloid grip of this dagger is a nice ivory color, so it has not faded to orange like so many have. It is in very nice shape, though it does have some small cracks near the cross guard. It has a nice slightly tapered shape, and is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire.
The hilt mounts are similarly great on this dagger. The pommel is crisp and excellent, with gold paint highlighted swass. The swass on both sides are clear, and the oak leaves around it is raised out and heavily hand enhanced. The pommel appears to be solid aluminum, and not plated, so it would not have the blackening seen on plated examples. It does have a bit of wear around the edges.
The crossguard is also made of Aluminum, which was an "Air Age" material, which was used to make most airplanes. It was considered fitting and desirable for the eagle-shaped guard to be made of this material. The front side is an eagle with a breast and talon area that is vaulted out much more so than the crossguards seen on other types of daggers. This guard shows some wear and has nice feathering on the eagle. The bird, of course, flies to the left and grasps a mobile swas in his talons. The reverse panel is decorated with small pebbling, which is still clear. The ferrule looks to be nickel plated brass, and is in excellent condition, having been protected by the Portepee, which is also in excellent condition, and tied in the Luftwaffe style.
This scabbard is a fine, straight example, having most of the original plated finish, with a lovely patina. There are a few small areas where the plating has flaked off the underlying steel. The aluminum bands are well defined and have outstanding hand enhanced oak leaves tipped at a 45 degree angle, with some wear. The throat is retained by two screws, one in each side, and is the wider version seen.
The blade on this example is not nickel plated, which is common for later produced blades. The reverse ricasso is maker marked A. SCHÜTELHÖFFER / ASSO / SOLINGEN-WALD in a lozenge around the company's trademark "two hobby horses in saltire" logo. A. Schütelhöffer & Co. (ASSO), Stahlwarenfabrik is a well-known maker from the Solingen-Wald area of Solingen, the famous "City of Blades" in Western Germany, which marketed many fine edged weapons.
The blade is in excellent condition, with all the original factory cross grain, and an intact pointed tip. There is just a bit of runner wear, and some tiny specks of oxidation, but the blade has not been sharpened, and really is a choice example. The original leather blade buffer is in place within the deep recesses of the guard.
Comes complete with genuine original hangers that are in very good condition with no major tears, and great velvet backing. The Buckles are aluminum, the usual material for a Luftwaffe dagger hanger, and the clips are marked D.R.G.M. on the back, indicating they are a trademarked design. The back of the belt clip also has the crossed A logo of F. W. Assmann & Söhne, a well known manufacturer of buckles.
This really is a really nice 2nd Model Luftwaffe Dagger, offered in great condition, ready to display!
- This product is available for international shipping. Shipping not available to: Australia, France, or Germany
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
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